Over the past few months, several personal experiences have led me to ponder how I and our country should see these imperfect children.
Four months ago, Karen and I were blessed with our eighth child, Bella, who three days later was diagnosed with Trisomy 18, a syndrome with a mortality rate of more than 90 percent in the first year. I subsequently discovered that a friend's 12-year-old son, Brendan, who also had Down syndrome, had a reoccurrence of leukemia. Then, two weeks ago, a friend's father performed a heroic act to save the life of his 20-year-old son with Down syndrome. And 12 years ago next week, our family will commemorate the date when we were told that Karen's fourth pregnancy had gone "awry."
I've recalled Condoleezza Rice's remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast: "American slaves used to sing, 'Nobody knows the trouble I've seen - Glory Hallelujah!' Growing up, I would often wonder at the seeming contradiction contained in this line. I believe this same message is found in the Bible in Romans 5, where we are told to 'rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint.' "
Amen.
This May, as our family was trying to come to grips with the news about our newborn baby, our priest told us of visiting our friends' son Brendan at the hospital before his chemotherapy treatment. Brendan didn't want the treatment because he knew it would make him very sick. Father told him he was not alone in his suffering, that another child like him, our daughter, was struggling in intensive care. Brendan said: "I'll do it and give up my suffering for Bella."
At the Republican Convention, I watched little Trig Palin "wave" to the crowd, have his hair spit shined by his big sister Piper, and have an emotional mom pledge solidarity with parents of special kids.
